It was the third week after entering freshman year.
The school held a welcome party in the auditorium and invited several outstanding alumni to give speeches.
Lu Shen stood on the stage, his suit straight and high-spirited, talking about his experience at Wall Street and how he went from Zhengfa University to Blackstone.
The audience burst into applause.
Zhao Chen is sitting in the fifth row, a few rows away, and Shen Zhiyi is lowering his head and writing down something in his notebook.
At that time, he didn't know her yet.
I just saw photos in the New Life group when school started, and I knew there was such a person.
After the party, it is time for free communication.
Lu Shen was surrounded by a group of junior students. He responded with a smile, and his gestures showed the calmness of having seen the world.
Zhao Chen was about to leave when he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure from the corner of his eye.
Shen Zhiyi.
She stood on the edge of the crowd, as if she just wanted to listen politely for a while and then find a chance to leave.
But Lu Shen's eyes have already fallen on her.
After dealing with the enthusiastic juniors around him, he walked straight towards her.
"This classmate," he said with a smile,
"I just noticed you on the stage. Are you listening carefully? Are you interested in the financial content?"
Shen Zhiyi nodded politely:
"Yes, senior."
Lu Shen smiled more gently:
"Are you interested in chatting? I happen to have interns at Blackstone. If there are suitable candidates, I can recommend them."
He said, taking a step forward.
That step made Shen Zhiyi move back half an inch instinctively.
Her movement was small, but Zhao Chen saw it.
There was still a polite smile on her lips, but there was a hint of unnoticeable discomfort in her eyes.
Zhao Chen was already ready to leave.
But he suddenly stopped.
Because he saw another familiar figure walking over there.
Chen Hao.
The boy who had been chasing Shen Zhiyi since the beginning of school was holding a glass of drink with an attentive smile on his face. He obviously wanted to take this opportunity to get close to her.
Zhao Chen suddenly felt a little interesting.
He stood there, watching the scene.
Chen Hao walked up to Shen Zhiyi and greeted him warmly:
"Zhiyi, you are here too! I was looking for you just now..."
Lu Shen glanced at Chen Hao's face, his smile did not change, but his eyes became a little lighter.
He went on to say to Shen Zhiyi:
"Student Shen, the internship opportunities I just mentioned are true.
If you are interested, we can add WeChat and I will send you the information later."
He took another step forward.
This step is closer.
It's so close that Shen Zhiyi has nowhere to retreat.
Her smile froze.
At that moment, Zhao Chen saw it.
I saw the flash in her eyes - not shyness, not nervousness.
It's boredom.
It's the kind of boredom of being forcibly approached and having nowhere to hide.
Chen Hao was still chattering beside him, completely unaware of anything wrong with the atmosphere.
Lu Shen's eyes always fall on Shen Zhiyi's face, that look...
Zhao Chen have seen that look.
On various occasions, on all kinds of men's faces.
He suddenly moved.
Not walking, but walking over.
He walked through the crowd and stood next to Shen Zhiyi, separating her and Lu Shen with his body.
"Senior," he said in a casual tone, "The speech you gave just now was very good. I have a few questions I would like to ask you."
Lu Shen was stunned for a moment, and his eyes fell on Zhao Chen.
This boy who suddenly appeared surprised him.
Shen Zhiyi was also stunned for a moment and turned to look at Zhao Chen.
She doesn't know him.
But she could feel that he was here to save her.
Lu Shen frowned, but quickly restored his smile:
"You are?"
"Zhao Chen." He reported his name, "Law School Freshman New Life."
Lu Shen looked at him, his smile did not change, but there was a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.
He looked Zhao Chen up and down, from feet to head, and then his eyes stopped on his face.
"Zhao Chen..." He read the name again, as if he was savoring something, "Zhao Jianguo's son?"
Zhao Chen's brows moved slightly.
Lu Shen smiled. The smile was gentler than before, but the meaning in his eyes had completely changed.
"I've heard of you," he said, "Henglong's little prince, right?"
He said this very softly, but several people around him heard it.
Chen Hao was stunned for a moment, and his eyes changed when he looked at Zhao Chen.
Shen Zhiyi was also stunned for a moment.
Zhao Chen said nothing.
Lu Shen took a step forward, got a little closer to him, and lowered his voice - but the volume was just enough for the people around him to hear:
"Why don't you just be your second generation ancestor at home and come here to be a hero and save the beauty?"
He smiled, glanced at Shen Zhiyi's face, and then returned to Zhao Chen:
"Little brother, this is not how you chase girls. Do you think that if you step out and block them, they will like you?"
Zhao Chen's fingers tightened slightly.
Lu Shen patted his shoulder, as if patting an ignorant child:
"Go back and ask your dad what it means to be a good match. A rich second generation like you who hangs around all day long will be looked down upon by nice girls."
After he finished speaking, he turned and left with a smile.
After taking a few steps, he looked back again.
There was contempt, ridicule, and something like "I remember you" in that look.
Zhao Chen stood there, motionless.
People around were whispering.
Chen Hao looked at him with mixed eyes - there was sympathy, there was gloating, and there was also a little bit of relief that "it turns out you are nothing more than that".
Shen Zhiyi also looked at him.
She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
Zhao Chen suddenly turned around and looked at her:
"Are you okay?"
His voice was very calm, as calm as if nothing happened.
Shen Zhiyi was stunned for a moment:
"I... I'm fine."
Zhao Chen nodded:
"That's good."
He turned and left.
When I walked out of the auditorium, the wind outside blew on my face, which made it a bit cold.
He heard someone chasing after him.
It's Shen Zhiyi.
"Zhao Chen!"
He stopped.
Shen Zhiyi ran to him, panting:
"That person just now... don't take what he said to heart."
Zhao Chen looked at her and suddenly smiled:
"I didn't take it seriously."
Shen Zhiyi was stunned for a moment:
"Really?"
"Really." Zhao Chen said, "He is right, I am indeed a rich second generation. But he said one thing wrong-"
He joked:
"I don't dawdle sometimes."
Shen Zhiyi looked at him.
In the night, his eyes were very bright.
"My name is Shen Zhiyi." She said, "My name is Law School."
Zhao Chen nodded:
"I know."
Shen Zhiyi was stunned for a moment:
"You know?"
Zhao Chen didn't explain, just smiled:
"Go back, it's cold outside."
He turned and left.
Shen Zhiyi stood there, watching his back disappear into the night.
That night, she remembered the name.
And Zhao Chen also remembered the flash of boredom in her eyes.
Not shy, not nervous.
It's really boring.
The boredom of being treated as prey and having nowhere to hide.
From that moment on, he decided -
He wanted to protect this person.
Zhao Chen Open your eyes.
It's very quiet in the office.
The sunshine outside the window is very good, illuminating the whole room warmly and brightly.
He suddenly realized that he had not let go of the hand holding the phone just now.
The phone screen has gone black.
Shen Jue hung up long ago.
Chen Xi and Zhang Qingxue both looked at him with worries on their faces.
"Zhao Zong?" Chen Xi called softly.
Zhao Chen came back to his senses:
"... It's okay."
He put down the phone very slowly.
All I can think about is that night three years ago.
The wind at the door of the auditorium.
Shen Zhiyi was panting when he caught up.
And Lu Shen's condescending look when he patted him on the shoulder.
"A rich second generation like you who hangs around all day long."
These words were like a thorn in his heart for three years.
It's not pain.
It's a reminder.
Remind him that one day, the person who said this will have to swallow his words.
Now, that day has come.
Chen Xi looked at him and asked cautiously:
"Zhao Zong, do you know that person?"
Zhao Chen nodded:
"Knowing."
He didn't explain much.
I didn't even think about how Shen Jue knew.
The thought flashed in his mind for a moment and was suppressed.
Not important.
The important thing is, Lu Shen is here.
Come with 2.6 billion.
Zhao Chen stood up and walked to the window.
The sun fell on him, coating his whole body with a golden outline.
"According to the original plan, Board of Directors will open in the afternoon."
He said, "The quotation of Jiahe is subject to normal discussion."
Chen Xi was stunned for a moment:
"Don't worry..."
"What are you worried about?" Zhao Chen turned around, "Worried about him seeking revenge?"
He smiled, the smile was very weak, but there was light in his eyes:
"Three years ago he called me a second-generation ancestor. Today he came to me with 2.6 billion to beg me to sell my assets."
He paused:
"Guess who feels more uncomfortable?"
Chen Xi was stunned for a moment, then smiled.
Zhang Qingxue couldn't help but curl his lips.
Zhao Chen turned around and looked out the window.
Lu Shen.
Three years.
You are finally here.